Gunfight scene that led to death of Halyna Hutchins on Alec Baldwin film Rust cut

The tragic church scene that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins has been axed from the film Rust.

The disastrous scene that saw cinematographer Halyna Hutchins shot and killed during rehearsals has been cut from the movie Rust.

Alec Baldwin resumed filming the Western after involuntary manslaughter charges over the on-set fatal shooting of the 45-year-old cinematographer were sensationally dropped against him.

Baldwin and fellow cast Jensen Ackles and Travis Hammer were working on a gunfight scene inside a church on the Bonanza Creek set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in October 2021 when the fatal accident occurred.

Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of Rust. Prosecutors dropped charges against Alec Baldwin. Picture: Supplied

According to the Daily Mail, a source confirmed the scene has been removed from the movie entirely and will not be reshot.

The actor was pictured holding a gun backwards on the relocated film set in Montana on Friday, Page Six reports, just one day after he was cleared of wrongdoing.

It is not clear whether Baldwin, 65, was filming a scene or just holding the gun backwards as a precaution when the photos were taken.

The charges were dropped just two weeks before the case was expected to head to trial and as Baldwin geared up to continue filming the movie as part of a civil settlement with director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the shooting.

Alec Baldwin in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Picture: Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican

Baldwin had pleaded not guilty to the charges over the October, 2021 shooting in the US state of New Mexico.

In a statement, Baldwin’s lawyers Luke Nikas and Alex Spiro said: “We are pleased with the decision to dismiss the case against Alec Baldwin and we encourage a proper investigation into the facts and circumstances of this tragic accident.”

Hollywood entertainment media outlet Deadline said the charges were to be dropped without prejudice.

A second person charged with involuntary manslaughter alongside Baldwin, the film’s former armourer.

Baldwin has maintained his innocence since the shooting. Picture: Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican

The production’s armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed is still facing charges in connection with the shooting.

New Mexico prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The dropping of the charges means veteran New Mexico attorneys Kari Morrissey and Jason Lewis, who were appointed as special prosecutors last month and are expected to continue investigating the incident, could file fresh charges at a later date.

The criminal case against Baldwin has hit multiple legal potholes in the past few months.

Baldwin and the film’s armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible on set for the weapon that killed Hutchins, were each charged with two alternative counts of voluntary manslaughter.

But a so-called “firearm enhancement” was dropped soon afterwards, due to an alleged technical error by prosecutors.

Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies and the case’s previous special prosecutor Andrea Reeb both stepped aside from overseeing the case against Baldwin.

– with AFP

Originally published as Gunfight scene that led to death of Halyna Hutchins on Alec Baldwin film Rust cut